A battle is brewing in Seattle over whether to allow signs on downtown skyscrapers. Currently, there’s a prohibition on signs above sixty feet with a few exceptions. Signs are allowed on sports stadiums and hotels under the theory that illuminated signs on those buildings could be like a beacon to help visitors find them.

Now comes a proposal to give large corporations a chance to make their mark on the Seattle skyline. Businesses that lease more than 200,000 square feet of space in an office building would be able to pay the property owner to put its name up in lights on the building. The letters could be up to 18 feet tall, but only white lights could be used, no neon or colored signs. Only about ten buildings might be impacted.

But many Seattleites are crying foul saying signs would defile the skyline. A group of architect professors at the University of Washington argues signs would change the entire character of the downtown forcing eyeballs away from the mountains and water and onto a bunch of bright signs.

One city council member agrees saying the skyline is public domain and allowing signs cheapens the city and represents a sellout to big business.

The issue surfaced after Russell Investments, a multinational corporation, moved its U.S. headquarters from Tacoma to Seattle. It employs 900 people. During the negotiations with the city, Russell was told they may change the sign ordinance allowing some companies to put their names on office buildings. Now, there’s a new mayor and some new city council members who are balking.

The business community is somewhat stunned by the reaction. The Chamber of Commerce and other business groups say the proposal is modest and would actually enhance the city’s image by highlighting some of the corporations that wanted to locate there. Also, with a 25-percent commercial vacancy rate some say this is a relatively small way of showing Seattle is business-friendly.

But in classic Seattle fashion, the proposed ordinance was brought up for a vote and tabled for six months so the issue can be further studied. Not exactly a sign of the times, but definitely some insight into how things are done in the Emerald City.